The Colonial Newsletter, no. 60

P.O.Box 4411 Huntsville, Alabama 35802 J.C.Spilman, Editor

Volume 20, No. 1

June, 1981

Serial No. 60

THE ANNOTATED BETTS

A Colonial Newsletter Foundation
Iterative Research Working Document

With this issue we begin a new approach to one i mportant aspect of early American numismatics,
the contemporaneous counterfeiting of copper coin. It consists of the preparation
of an annotated copy of an address given in April 1886 by C. Wyllis Betts before the
American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. The address was printed by request
of the Society and distributed to the membership as a single pamphlet separate from any
other publication of the Society. In his address "Counterfeit Half Pence Current in the
American Colonies and their Issue from the Mints of Connecticut and Vermont", Betts
makes the first "scientific" case for the manufacture of counterfeit copper coin by the
various official and unofficial mints operating in America during the 1785“1788 era;
his work is the cornerstone for subsequent studies. Betts offered very specific details on
the various straws lightly grasped by S.S, Crosby in his "Early Coins of America and
totally neglected, later, by H.C. Miller in his "State Coinage of Connecticut .

Subsequent work in this area has established with reasonable certainty the identity of
many of the specimens that probably originated at the various mint sites.

Over the years a surprising number of CNL Patrons have inquired regarding the
availability of a copy of Betts' address. So far as is known to ye Editor, outside of the
small quantity of originals distributed by the Society in 1886, the only reprint was one
prepared early in 1960 by George Fuld and Bob Vlack. However many of their copies
were distributed, they quickly became treasured possessions and vanished onto the
shelves of private numismatic libraries.

Several years ago we borrowed an original copy of Betts' address from CNL Patron
Edward R. Barnsley and made photographic negatives for use at some future time. Ned's
copy of "Betts" was carefully hand annotated with corresponding Miller and Ryder
attributions of the Connecticut and Vermont related specimens, and quite a few
printing errors were noted. Using Barnsley's annotations as a starting point, ye
Editor has added Vlack, Bressett and Barnsley/Miller attributions to the annotations
and composed the original seventeen pages into a new format which maintains the
original pagination but incorporates the annotations generally to the right or left of the
original text in a manner permitting easy recognition of original text versus the
modern annotations. Thus ““ we have the first iteration of our planned
Iterative Research Working Document which we call "The Annotated Betts".

Sequential page 747

Copyright © 1981 by The Colonial Newsletter Foundation, Inc.

June 1981

THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER Sequential page 748

The printed version of Betts' address is probably a considerably abbreviated
version of his actual speech before the members of the Society. The line drawings
illustrating the various coins are exceptionally accurate and depict exact details
of the more unusual specimens; however, we. suspect that Betts did not proof read
the final typeset version, otherwise he would have rewritten portions for better
understanding. As presented, the British specimens are described as British, but
later shown to be American in origin, and while this point could be well made
with voice inflection and gestures, it just barely comes across in the
printed text, hence our questioning annotations on pages 2 and 3.

The next iteration of The Annotated Betts will consist of additional pages
comprising photographs of the exact specimens illustrated by the line drawings
and additional photographs directly related to the text or to the present
annotations. Subsequently we plan several pages of notes, to be prepared by our
Patrons, expanding on Betts' comments or relating to subsequent discoveries of
related specimens and other items of interest on this topic. Finally, we plan to
prepare a die interlock chart similar to that for the Connecticut Coppers
(CNL No. 48, page 577) showing the direct interlocking and indirect
relationships between the Connecticut, Vermont, Machins Mills and other
copper coinage discussed by C. Wyllys Betts.

The assistance of our Patrons is needed to complete this task. We already have
available in the CNL photographic files negatives of most of the actual coins
depicted by the Betts line drawings, and we have written to various Patrons to
obtain those few negatives not in our files or to obtain specimens for photography.
Accordingly, all of your suggestions for content and format & photographs or text
for publication in subsequent iterations will be sincerely appreciated.

By itself the presentation in the original Betts address is a bit difficult to follow and
we hope that the annotations are helpful. The following designators have been used
for identifying modern attributions of coinage specimens :

Miller

Ryder

Vlack

Bressett

Barnsley

Henry C. Miller, "The State Coinage of Connecticut"

AJN, Vol.LIII, Part I, 1919. Pages 1-62, plates l-V.

Hi I Iyer Ryder, "The Colonial Coins of Vermont"

AJN, Vol.LIII, Part I, 1919, Pages 63-67, plate VI .

Robert A. Vlack, "Early English Counterfeit Halfpence Struck
in America" Two Photographic Plates, 1974.

Kenneth E. Bressett, "Vermont Copper Coinage", Chapter 11 in
Studies in Money in Early America. ANS, 1976.

Edward R. Barnsley, various additions to the Miller attribution
system published in The Colonial Newsletter, especially the
varieties 2. 3-T, 2.4-U, 2.5-V and 2.6-BRI-GEO, a "family"
group of contemporaneous counterfeits displaying the
AUCTORI CONNEC legend and bearing no stylistic
relationship to the supposed products of Machins Mills.

JCS

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BETTS-i

COUNTERFEIT HALF PENCE

CURRENT IN THE

American Colonies,

AND THEIR ISSUE FROM

THE MINTS OF CONNECTICUT AND VERMONT.

Wyllys Betts, Esq.,

BEFORE THE

AMERICAN NUMISMATIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Printed by Request of the Society.

NEW YORK:

Burgoywe’s “Quick” Print, 146-150 Centre Street.
1886 .

THE ANNOTATED BETTS

A Colonial Newsletter Foundation
Iterative Research Working Document

Copyright © 1981 by The Colonial Newsletter Foundation, Inc.

m

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COUNTERFEIT HALF PENCE

CURRENT IN THE

AMERICAN COLONIES,

AND THEIR ISSUE FROM THE

M iNTS OF Connecticut and Vermont.

BY

WYLLYS BETIS, Esq.,

BEFORE THE

AMERICAN NUMISMATIC & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

PRINTED SY REQUEST OP THE SOCIETY.

No. I.— Connecticut Cent.
Goddess facing the right.

et lib. inde . 1787.

Discovered by Lyman H. Low
See page 9

Miller 1 .4-WW
of 1787

Coin-counterfeiting in the American colonial period
seems to have been almost entirely confined to the imi-
tation of half pence. False or base specimens of
the Spanish, French or English silver money current
here prior to the issues of the United States Mint are
rarely or never seen ; and the only instance on record

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2

of fraudulent manufacture is that of silvered French sous,
. . which are said to have been extensively circulated

By whom? ^ ^ ^

as half crowns. Probably the business of clipping and
of printing Continental bills was more lucrative than
that of die -cutting.

The manufacture of counterfeit coppers, if we may
Added emphasis judge from the dates of specimens now existing, seems
to have commenced about 1741.

I will first call your attention to examples of these
British counterfeit half pennies of George II. and III.,
and, for the sake of comparison, I have brought a speci-
men of the regular issue of the British mint of each
reign.

No. 2. — Genuine Half Penny.

1770.

The Yale College collection, which is the chief source
of information on this subject, contains counterfeits of
the following dates:

George II., 1741, 1744, 1747, 1757. 177-, the latter
being extremely rude and with the head to right;

George III., 1771 (four varieties), 1772 (three varieties,
one with u instead of v in oeorgius), 1773 (nine varieties),
1 7 74 (nine varieties), 1775 (thirty- five varieties), 1776 (four
varieties), 1778 (five varieties), 1781 (one variety), 1785
(one variety), 1786 (one variety), 1787 (four varieties),
1788 (one variety).

AH British
counterfeits?

3

The regular coinage of English half pence ceased in
I775> that year the counterfeit coinage seems to

have been most extensive (at least thirty-five varieties). English - not American

counterfeits

No. 3. — Counterfeit Half Penny.

Vlock Obverse 4
(reverse 75A not illustrated)

*775-

In 1 776 the four varieties are very like those of 1775. Discussion of American
The style of all these coins is similar, and closely copies counterfeits?

that of the genuine half pence in the following respects,
viz; The bust faces the right and is mailed ; the hair at
the back of the head is arranged in wavy lines, without
any general direction, and in front of the wreath it ap-
pears in curly locks, but not sufficiently curled to form
ringlets; the wreath terminates at the top of the head irl
a group of three leaves, and the legend is punctuated
with periods opposite the centre of the nearest letter,
thus; GEORGivs . Ill • REX • except in one example of
1 77 1, where the first period is omitted. This one excep-
tion is smaller than the other varieties; and in this respect,
as well as in the peculiar shape of the head, and the ex-
ecution and position of the goddess, it bears a close re-
semblance to one of the Connecticut cents of 1 786 men-
tioned below (page 10).

In 1778 a marked change appears in the execution.

Three varieties of head are found, all differing from those
that preceded, and all closely resembling one another; the

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4

arrangement of the hair is in lines without wave, di-
verging from a point at the back, this style being found
in no other half pennies until we come to 1 787. The hair
in front of the wreath is in heavy ringlets. The lips, also,
instead of being of unequal length, as in all other earlier
halfpennies, whether genuine or counterfeit (Nos. 2 and 3),
are made of two narrow lines of equal length and pursed
up close under the nose. The eye is long and almond-
shaped, and the laurel leaves are broad and well defined,
and terminate in a single leaf above, instead of in a group
of three, as in the genuine half penny of 1775, and in al-
most all other counterfeits. The legend has no period
after georgivs, and the periods after iii and rex are
placed in line with the base of the letters, instead of at
the centre, as in all other counterfeit half pennies of
prior date. (Compare Nos. 5 and 13 with Nos. 3 and 4).

After 1778 the next half pence coined are dated 1781 1

. . - , r Unknown today .

and 1 785, each year showing one variety of good execu- )
tion, closely resembling the counterfeit of 1775. The
latter specimen is illustrated in No. 4.

No. 4. — Counterfeit Half Penny.

Unknown today?

Perhaps same die
as Vlack Obverse 15
which is muled with
1787 IMMUNE COLUMBIA?

In 1786 there is but one very rude specimen, both n’s
of “Britannia” being at the right of the goddess (No.

8, p. 8).

Known today as
Barnsley/ Mi Her 2.6-BRI
and Vlack 16-86A

1785.

= l.’SII

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5

Miller Obverse 101 of 1788
Reverse of this is No. 20

Vlack Obverse 13

No. 16 shows another specimen
of same die, but made from a
different line drawing.

Vlack Obverse 12

Obverse of Counterfeit Halt Pence.

In 1787 there are four obverse and four reverse dies, Yale had four (page 2),

, . , 1*1 1 r • • '-T ‘1 where did he get the fifth?

which are combined to make five varieties. Ihe execu-
tion of three , of them is very similar to that of the cop-
pers of 1778, the hair being arranged in the same straight
lines and ringlets, and the eye and lips having the same
peculiarities. The broad laurel leaves, the absence of the
period after georgivs, and the arrangement of the other
periods in line with the base of the letters, also appear
here.

In 1788 but one variety is found. In this the lips and
eye are the same as in 1 787 ; the hair is in lines with-
out wave, and the arrangement of the periods has the
same peculiarity, although a period appears before iii
and none after rex. (No. 14, p. 14).

What, then, can we learn from a study of these coins ?
Among all these counterfeits, is it possible to determine
whether any of them are of American production ? If
so, which of them shall we claim, and where were they
made ? That is the subject for discussion to-night.

The copper coins having on the obverse the head and
title of George the Third, and on the reverse the legend
“ Inde et Lib. 1788,” have long been properly placed
in the American Colonial Series.

Miller 100-1 of 1788
and

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6

These coins are of two kinds ; one having the round
head peculiar to the Vermont series, and the legend
Miller Obverse 100 of 1788 GEORGIYS . Ill . REX . and with the legend On the reverse

INDE + ET . LIB + I 788; the Other having a smaller head Miller Reverse l of 1788
Miller Obverse loi of 17,88 and with the period omitted after georgivs, and with

the legend on the reverse inde ♦ et * lib * 1788 (No. Miller Reverse o of 1 788
21. p. 15).

It has been stated that these coins were both from the By whons?
well-known mint of Atlee and Mackin, established in
1787, at New Grange, now Newburgh, N. Y. It
has also been suggested that the coppers having
the obverse “ Vermon Auctori,” and the reverse “ Bri-

Ryder 13 (Bressett 17 -V) /> • 1 r

tannia,” as well as the counterfeit half pence of George
III,, and perhaps some of the pieces now classed as
Connecticut coins, also came from this mint (Am,
whoHs this reference? Joumal, IX., 53) | but hitherto no proof of these facts
has been offered.

Indeed, the coppers bearing the legend “ Georgivs III.

Rex.,” and the reverse “ Britannia,” and having dates
subsequent to the cessation of the regular British coin-
age in 1775, are rarely included in the Colonial series.

I intend to-night to show — first, that most of these
half pennies of George III,, after 1775, were made in
this country, and not imported from Birmingham, as is
commonly believed ; and, second, that some of them
are from the same mint as the coins of Vermont and
Connecticut of almost all the well-known varieties, and
that they form the connecting link between the coins of
those two States,

We start in our investigation with a strong probability
in favor of this hypothesis derived from the fact that
Mackin and Atlee, of Newburgh, formed a partnership

7

in 1787 with Harmon, the sole patentee of the Vermont
mint ; also that William Buel, the son of Abel Buel, one
of the patentees of the Connecticut mint, removed from
New Haven to Vermont, taking with him the dies used
by his father, and that he went into the business of coin-
ing with Mr. Harmon, in Rupert. It also appears that
after the mint at New Haven ceased working in 1787
Major Eli Uavenworth One of the patentees had blank coppers sent to New
York to be stamped, probably to the Atlee and Mackin
“hardware” factory.

Before proceeding to establish the connection of these
coins with those of Vermont and Connecticut, I will say
a word regarding the character of the evidence.

b I'he first class of testimony to unity of minting is found in

the recurrence of the same obverse with various reverses,
or vice versa. It scarcely requires assertion, and will at
once be admitted, that where two dissimilar obverse dies
are found combined with the same reverse, they both
must have proceeded from the same mint.

2) The second kind of testimony consists of unusual
forms of letters appearing upon different coins, showing
that the same punches were used in sinking the dies.

3) The third and scarcely less trustworthy class of evi-
dence is close similarity of execution, especially when
exhibiting marked peculiarities not found in other coins
of the same character.

This similarity, as already pointed out, is found in a
remarkable degree in the three obverses of the half
pennies of 17^7 when compared with the three obverses
of 1778, and the same thing is true also ot the reverses,
as I will presently show more at length,

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One illustration of the first of these classes of evidence
I will give in passing, but only as an isolated instance,
and not as part of my main argument.

The rude half penny of 1786, already mentioned (No,
8), has a somewhat striking resemblance to a Connecti-
cut cent in my possession (No. 7) having a small head
of negro type facing the right, with the legend , auc-
TOIRI . . CONNEC .

Colled 2,3-T of 1786
by Edward R. Barnsley
Two others, 2.4-U
and 2.5-V are similar

No. 7.— Connecticut Cent',

With British Shield.

The reverse shows a mere skeleton for the goddess, and
bears a British shield, but with the legend inqe : : et
— the D being reversed. The representation of Liberty
is similar to that pf Britannia upon the 1 786 half penny.

VIock I6-86A-CT
Bomiloy GEO-BRI-2.6

No. 8. — Counterfeit Half Pennies

Vloek 16 of >786. vlaek 86A

Now, singularly, I have recently seen a Connecticut
cent having an obverse very similar to No. 7, and with the
reverse from the same rude die as the 1 786 half penny,

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Ryder 25, 28, 29 & 31 .
BresseH 16-U, 21 -U,
22-U 8. 24-U.

Miller 100-1, 125-1,
129-1 & 128-1.

thus proving that the latter was of American manu-
facture.

A familiar instance of the third class of evidence, namely,
similarity of execution proving origin in the same mint,
is found by comparison of the common type of round-
headed Vermont cent with the cent with the same head and
with the legend “ Georgivs . Ill . Rex.,” and with the Con-
necticut cent of 1787, reverse “ et lib inde . 1787 •
These heads all have the peculiarity not found in any
other Colonial coins, that the hair runs in uniform curved
lines from the back of the head to the wreath, each line
ending at a separate place on the back of the head and
at a separate place in the wreath, and not converging.

Apart from other proof, this peculiarity would indicate
that these dies are all the work of the same hand ; and, as
these obverses are all found united with the same reverse
die, namely, inde -p et . lib -f- i 788, the resemblance is
not fancied.

The same head with the same treatment of hair exists
in the Vermont cent, with reverse et lib inde ; and a
precisely similar treatment of hair exists in the Connec-
ticut cent of 1 786, with large mailed bust to right and
legend auctori : connec ; This latter is again con-
nected by identity of letter punches with the et lib inde
cent of 1 787, with goddess facing the right, recently
discovered by Mr. Lyman H. Low, and a cut of which is
at the head of this article (No, i). In like manner it is
connected with the two et lib inde Connecticut cents of
1 786, and with another cent with the same obverse, of
the same date, but with the legend inde et lib. The
latter being of full weight, will perhaps put at rest Mr.
Crosby’s charge that these cents are counterfeits.

Ryder 18 (BresseH 19-X)

Miller 3-D of 1786

Miller 1.4-WW of 1787

Miller 1-A of 1786
and 2. 1-A of 1786

Crosby p. 214

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Two other obverse dies with a large head to right
are almost identical in execution. A specimen of one I
produce, and another I have seen with the reverse of

Miller Reverse L of 1787 the “ homed buSt ” of 1 787.

All the above Connecticut cents with et lib inde re-
verse are proved to be from the same mint by the
peculiarity that the letter c is from a smaller set of
punches (see No. i).

I Thus the common round-headed Vermont cent, which
appears in numerous types in both 1787 and 1788, is un-
questionably traced through the “ Et Lib Inde ” of 1787
to the same mint as all the Connecticut cents ot 1700
with the head to the right, and also the “ homed bust ”
of 1787.

( Another peculiarity of all these Connecticut coins al-
ready mentioned is that the wreath is tied in a bow,
which is not the case upon any of the cents of this State
of 1785 (see No. 9), nor upon any others of 1786, nor
upon any of 1788, except those with mailed bust to the
right, to which reference will presently be made (see
Nos. 1 1 and 15).

Ml I ler Obverse 4 of 1 787

No. 9.— Connecticut Cent of 1785. Reverse

Without Bow. of same.

Miller 6. 1-A.1 of 1785

Having thus illustrated by familiar examples the three
classes of evidence, I will now endeavor to show by illus-
trations of the same kind that many of the British half

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pence already described are quite as properly to be consid-
ered coins of Vermont and Connecticut as many of the
well known varieties bearing the names of those States.

I will first point out the peculiarity of some prominent
varieties of the Connecticut coinage of 1787 and 1788,
and their common mintage with the cent having the ob-
verse " GEORGivs III . REX . ” , and the reverse “ inde «
ET * LIB « 1788” (No. 21).

The following varieties are connected together by the
use of identical obverse or reverse dies, viz.:

+ AUCTORi ♦ * CONNEC ♦ with mailed bust to right, is
found with two varieties of the reverse, inde * et lib+ 1788 ;
one of these varieties occurs with the obverse « auctori «
« CONNEC + (No. p. J-4-), and the other with the
obverse AUCTORI ♦ ♦ connec +, both having mailed bust
to right, while the same obverse is found with the re-
verse * INDE ♦ ET * LIB « 1 788 ; and again, the latter
reverse die appears with the obverse auctori. • connec •
with mailed bust to left. This obverse again is used
with the reverse • in de. et lib. • 1787. Thus the
varieties numbered by Mr. Crosby 3, 4, 5 and 8, of
1788, and No. 12, of 1787, are proved to have been
minted at the same place. The mailed bust upon the
two last varieties is precisely the same in execution with
that of the • auctori • • • • connect • • ; and one
of the reverses (P* of Crosby) of the latter is found
with the obverse • auctori • • connec . • , with
draped bust to left.

Again, we find another series of Connecticut cents con-
nected in the same way, namely :

AUCTORI ♦ * CONNEC ♦ with head to right, has the
reverse • inde . • * • etlib . • 1788; and this reverse

Miller 101-0 of 1788

Miller Obverse 3.1 & 3.2
and Reverses B.l & B.2 of 1788

Miller Obverse 5 of 1788

Miller Obverses 4. 1 & 4.2
of 1788

Miller Reverse K of 1788

Miller Obverse 8 of 1788
(some os Obverse 12 of 1787)

Miller Reverse Q of 1787

Miller Obverse 1 5 of 1787

Miller Obverse 50 of 1787
(some os Obverse 17 of 1788)

Miller Obverse 6 of 1788
Miller Reverse H of 1788

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Miller Obverse 16.1 of 1788

Miller Reverse D of 1788

Miller Obverse 2 of 1788
Miller Obverse 101 of 1788

is found with obverse • auctori . « ♦ connec . ♦ (No.

10) , with draped bust to left. A variety of the latter ob-
verse, proved to be from the same mint by peculi-
arities of the letters t and r, has the reverse inde *
ET * LIB « 1788 (No. 21, p. 15); and this reverse is
combined with the obverses * auctori . connec * (No.

1 1 ) , with mailed bust to right, and also with the die
georgivs III . REX . already noticed (p. 6).

Miller Obverse 2 of 1788

Both having Reverse No. 21.

Miller Reverse G of 1787

The latter obverse has also the reverse inde * et
LIB . 1787 (No. 19, p. 15), a variety of which is found
with the obverses auctori connec . with head to right. Miller obverse 52 of i7S7

and another with head to left and the same punctuation Miller Obverse 3 of i787
(No. 12).

No. 1 2. — Connecticut Cent of 1787,

Miller Obverse 3 of 1787

With Reverse No. 19.

These illustrations of the “ muling ” of dies might
be carried still further ; but enough has been shown to
prove that almost all the well-known varieties of mailed

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13

busts to right and to left, and some of those with draped
bust to left, were minted at the same place.

If, therefore, we establish a connection of the coins
of Vermont, or of the counterfeit half pence, with any
one of these pieces, we establish it with all.

We find, in the first place, that all the Connecticut
coppers of 1788, with mailed bust to right, possess the
very peculiarities noticed in the counterfeit half pennies
of 1 778 and 1 787, namely, the lips formed of two narrow
lines pursed up under the nose, the long almond-shaped
eye, the hair without waves at the. back and in heavy
ringlets in front, and the broad, well-defined laurel leaves,
with a single leaf projecting above the head. (Compare importanti
Nos. II and 15 with Nos. 5 and 6).

They also, all but one (No. 4 of Crosby), have the
wreath tied in a bow at the back, a peculiarity which they
share with all counterfeit British half pence of 1778
and 1787, and also with the Vermont and Connecticut
cents, already mentioned, which are directly connected
together by the copper bearing reverse inde -f et lib +

1788 and with the obverse georgivs . iii . rex. Miller loi-i of 1788

The hair shown in one die of Crosby’s No. 4 of
1 788 is arranged in the peculiar form already noticed of
lines diverging from a point at the back of the head.

The hair in the other varieties is in fine concentric lines,
as in the counterfeit half penny of 1788 (No. 14), and
in one obverse of 1778 (No. 13), to which they all have
a singular resemblance.

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14

Vlack 13

Reverse of No. 13 is No. 20

First variety is No. 5

No. 13.

Counterfeit Half Penny.

1778 (second variety, Re-
verse No. 20 ).

No. 14. No. 15.

Counterfeit Half Penny. Connecticut Cent.

1788 (Reverse No. 22). 1788.

Miller Obverse 5 of 1788

Two Vermont coppers have the same peculiarities,
namely, the obverse vermon auctori (No. 17), with
reverse Britannia . 1787 (No. 18), and the obverse
VERMON . AUCTORI * , with reverse (^"in^et lib *
1788, closely resembling No. 21. Both have the mailed
bust to right; both have the wreath tied in a bow; both
have the lips made of two narrow lines and pursed up ;
both have the broad leaves of laurel terminating in a sin-
gle leaf above, and both have the almond-shaped eyes,
and the hair without wave at the back and with heavy
ringlets in front. The latter of these Vermont cents is
again connected by peculiatries of the letters i and d
with the mint of the ★ auctori • connec ★ already
mentioned (No. 10; reverse No. 21).

Ryder 13 (Bressett 17)
Ryder 27(Bressett 18)

Ryder 27(Bressetf 18)

Miller 16.1-Dof 1788

No. 17.— Vermont Cent, 1787,

With Reverse “Britannia.”

Ryder 13 (Bressett 17)
Reverse is No. 18

Turn now to the reverse of these coins, and you will
find peculiarities of execution almost equally well

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15

marked, and running’ through the dies of almost all the
counterfeit half pennies of 1778 and 1 787, of the two Ver- Ryder 13 and 27
mont coppers last mentioned, and of the Connecticut cents
of 1 788, with mailed busts to right.

No. 18.

Reverse of Vermont “Britannia,” 1787,

Ryder 13 (Bressett 17)
Obverse is No. 17

Before the Die was worn out.

(No. 12, p. ii).

The head of the goddess is large and very round, and
usually well thrown back, such head and position being

found in no other coins except the two Connecticut cents Miller 2 -d 8. 16 . 1 -D of 1787
with legend inde * et « lib * 1787, already shown to
be connected, by the same reverse (No. 21), with the
Miller Obverse 101 of 1787 obverse die GEORGivs III . REX . The goddess also car-
ries in her hand a sprig, of pyramidal shape, composed
of three branches, each having three leaves.

Vlock 788

No. 20. No. 21. No. 22.

Reverse of Counterfeit Reverse of Connecticut Reverse of Counterfeit

Half Penny, -*^r88r Cent, 1788. Half Penny, 1788,

(With Obv. 5 and 13.) (With Obv.;9f^and 10.) (With Obv. No. 14.)

Miller Reverse D of 1788

These peculiarities do not exist in any other counter-
feit half pennies, with one exception, 'nor in any other

DATABOOK THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER BETTS-16

If)

coins of Vermont or Connecticut, and they point unmis-
takably to the same workmanship.

The one exception is a half penny of George II. of
1 747. This shows the same peculiarities, and I am in-
clined to believe that it was made by the same engraver
and given a date forty years earlier than that of its
coinage.

Now, comparing the half pennies of 1787 (No. 6)

Ryder J 3 (Bresseu 17 ) with the Vermont coin (No. 17) having the reverse

BRITANNIA, I find in several of them the identical reverse Notei
die (No. 18), used with several obverse dies. One in
my possession shows both dies in good condition. A
second impression, though as fine as when struck, shows
the same dies much worn, and the reverse die shows the
weakness around the edge always existing in the reverse
of the “ Britannia ” Vermont cent, showing that the die
was worn out in striking half pence before its use began
with the Vermont obverse.

Next, turn to the half pennies of 1778 (Nos, 5 and
1 3), and compare with them the obverse georgivs hi . Miller obverse 101 of 1788
REX , which is muled with the Connecticut die of 1788
Miller Reverse D of 1788 (No. 2 1), and here again we find the identical die used
with several reverse dies (one of which is No, 20), all
having the date 1778; and some of these reverse dies
are again found with other obverse dies having the
same marked peculiarities (one of which is No. i 3).

Thus we find an absolute connection of all the half
pence of 1778 with the Connecticut coins of 1788 ; and
also an absolute connection of four out of five of the
varieties of 1787 half pence with the Vermont coins of
1788. The letter punches, especially the x, used upon
the dies of the half pence of 1778 and 1787 also .seem

BETTS-17

DATABOOK

THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER

17

Has anyone, today,
established an answer
on this point?

to be the same, though the peculiarities are not suffi-
ciently marked to make this certain. The peculiarities
of execution, however, are plainly traced to the same
hand. The conclusion is inevitable that all these coins
are of American production, and that they came from
the same mint.

As yet, I have not been able to account for the appa-
rently extensive coinage of half pennies dated 1778 with
dies evidently of the same workmanship as those of 1 787.

I would be inclined to think that those of 1778 had
been antedated if it were not for the fact that 1 have
not found any one of them used with any one of the 1787
dies, which would naturally follow if all had been made

at the same time. It is plain, also, that the oeorgivs Miller Obverse 101 of 1788
III . REX . die (No. 5) was beginning to give way when
used with the Connecticut reverse of 1788 (No. 21), the Miller Reverse D of 1788
face of the die having become concave, showing that
it had then been much used. Perhaps further investi-
gation may settle this point. If the 1778 half pence are
not antedated, they are the earliest examples of coinage
in the United States after the Declaration of Indepen-
dence.

New York, April, 1886.